Portland Timbers midfielder Kalif Alhassan and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan fight for possession of the ball during the first half of the Galaxy's 3-0 win April 23. Donovan scored the first of his two goals in the eighth minute. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

BEAVERTON - The Portland Timbers worked on their defensive weaknesses during practice Tuesday.

And the Timber's most glaring weakness has been how they respond after giving up a goal.

The Timbers have allowed an opponent to score a second goal soon after
the first goal has been scored in four of their first six games this
season. This time it was the Los Angeles Galaxy scoring two goals in a
span of four minutes early in the game, leading to the Timbers' 3-0 loss
Saturday night.

The Timbers also allowed two second-half goals in three minutes against
Dallas, two second-half goals in 15 minutes against Chicago and three
first-half goals in 30 minutes against Colorado.

The trend of allowing multiple goals in a short amount of time has led to questions about the Timbers mental toughness.

"We don't want to get (tagged) with a stigma that we're (mentally) soft," Portland coach John Spencer said.

It's an image that runs counter to they type of team Spencer, who was
known as mentally tough during his days as a player, wants to build.

"It does eat at me, because I take this very seriously," Spencer said.
"(As players), you've got to look at yourself individually and you've
got to analyze yourself."

Spencer said doesn't think his team is mentally soft. But he knows the
"soft" label is quick to form and stick while being slow to eliminate
and shed in sports.

"I know if I was playing against (the Timbers), that's what I would say
as a coach, 'If you get one (goal) against this team, there's a chance
you could get two or three,' " Spencer said. "You don't want to get a
reputation ... we need to try and erase that as quick as we possibly
can."

Players say they don't want -- or deserve -- the label.

"I'm sure teams are looking at the video (of previous games) and
thinking if they get one (goal), it may be easier to get another one,"
midfielder Jeremy Hall said. "I'm sure teams are talking this and that.
But we're not panicking. We know we're a strong team and we're still
getting things together."

Portland defender Eric Brunner said the any negative perception is one that is misguided and wrong.

"I don't think it's that at all," Brunner said. "It's little mistakes that take time to fix. We just have to be smarter."

Spencer said what the Timbers need is for players to take charge of this
team when adversity - a goal being scored -strikes. Giving up a goal in
the fourth minute isn't fatal. Giving up another goal four minutes
later against one of the top teams in Major League Soccer while playing
on the road almost certainly is.

"Sometimes when you're playing in big games, you make a mistake and
people go into shells," Spencer said after the game in Los Angeles. "We
need to be mentally tougher."

The game against the Galaxy started a difficult stretch of games for the
Timbers. The Timbers host unbeaten Real Salt Lake Saturday at home
before facing surprising Philadelphia and then a road trip to Seattle.

"You can't teach mental toughness. I'm not saying we don't have the
heart ... but we need to stand up to pressure," Spencer said. "I'm
expecting everybody to stand up and be counted this weekend for sure."

Notes: Spencer said that midfielder Darlington Nagbe is under
consideration for a starting spot in Saturday's game. The rookie has
come off the bench in the last four games, but Spencer said Nagbe has
worked his way into better condition. ... Forward Eddie Johnson
continues to be hobbled by a sore right Achilles tendon. Johnson was
kicked in the tendon during the team's game against the U.S. U-18 mens
national team last week.